Lesson plans and assessments contributed by Central Jersey World Languages Professional Development Institute 2000.

My Home Town

Title: My Home Town

Topic: Giving Directions

Level: Novice

Focus Age Group: 11 to 18 years

National Standards Goals:

CommunicationCultures Connections Comparisons Communities

Communicative Mode:

Interpersonal Interpretive Presentational

NJ Cumulative Progress Indicators:

7.1.5 Provide and obtain information on familiar topics

7.1.9 Describe people, places, things, and events with some detail

7.2.1 Demonstrate an awareness of culture

Timeframe: One full class period of 40 minutes

Description of Task:
Two French foreign exchange students with very limited command of English have just come to live with your family for the semester. Your Mom has asked you to help them find their way around town. To accomplish this you decide to prepare a map and a cassette tape, which will guide them to some of the interesting and important buildings and landmarks in your town.

The map will be in card format, and will include reference to at least five landmarks, each of which will be labeled in French on the map. At least one of these landmarks should be a building (such as the post office), which will show an element of American life that is different form European life.

The cassette tape will include directions, in French, from your house to each of the five landmarks you have chosen.

Materials Needed:

Map of your town
Photos of landmarks and buildings in your town
Blank cassette tapes

Teacher Notes:
After reviewing building names and directions, place pictures and maps around the classroom to provide focus for the activity.